Window assemblies



Allg. 22, 1 G, MacGREGf-)R WINDOW ASSEMBLIES 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 18, 1965` INVENTOR.

FIG.

JAMES G. MAC GREGOR ATTORNEY.

All@ 22, 1967 ,1. G. MaCGRl-:GCR 3,336,698

l WINDOW ASSEMBLIES Filed Jan. 1a, 1965 5v sheets-sheet 24 v Y 3o JAMES G. MAC GREGO INVENTOR.

'O2 ATTORNEY.

` 'Tj l :fili-11" BYMQLf/Y/ Al1g- 22, 1967 J. G. MaCGRf-:GOR 3,336,698

` WINDOW ASSEMBLIES Filed Jan. 18, 1965 '3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. Q w- [O8 Q-, /l 66 S l JAMES G. MAC GREGOR INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent O 3,336,698 WINDOW ASSEMBLIES James G. MacGregor, Stamford, Conn., assigner to A.M.S. Corporation, South Norwalk, Conn. Filed Jan. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 426,292 Claims. (Cl. 49-380) This invention relates to window assemblies, and particularly to the storm window, screen and frame assemblies known as combination window units.

Permanently installed combination storm windows and screens have become popular because they are longwearing and light in weight, and because they eliminate the need for removal and substitution `of screens and storm windows semi-annually. Fabrication of storm sash and screen frames from extruded aluminum has greatly extended the useful life and weatherproof character of these assemblies.

Such combination Window assemblies introduce serious problems in the erection and maintenance of buildings, however, for their frames Aare generally designed for insertion directly in the sash openings formed by the head, jambs and sill of the window frame, somewhat as an accessory, or extra improvement, greatly reducing the original view opening of the window. Such window frames therefore require normal exterior finishing trim and drip cap, and they require complete painting. Such combination window units, sized to t a variety of window frames, are generally custom built and often introduce cracks, air leaks and rattling, thus requiring caulking :after installation. Such conventional window installations must have drip caps and flashing carefully installed to avoid water damage, and the labor of installation and painting is not simplified by the addition of such storm and screen combination windows.

The present invention vastly simplies the builders installation of window units. The combination stormwindow and screen units of the present invention are employed to finish the exterior frame of a conventional double hung sash window, forming the exposed outer trim and drip cap of the window assembly, and they provide automatic flashing around the top and both sides of the entire window unit. Aside from the protruding still, exterior finish painting of the window is entirely eliminated.

Unusually wide view openings are provided by the windows of this invention, together with an extended useful life and quiet, trouble-free operation. These units require no caulking and yare automatically weatherstripped by resilient tracks. The use of extruded aluminum, stainless steel, and plastic materials to form the parts of the present invention provides high weather-resistance and long useful life.

The present invention provides all the advantages of modular prefabricated construction with precut standard sizes assembled either during production or in the storage warehouse or at the site to t all standard sizes of rough window openings, with minor size variations being compensated by adjustable sliding corner fit in the assembled window units.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide modular, prefabricated window assemblies which can be easily assembled and erected as complete window units in all standard sizes of rough window openings or window frames.

Another object of the invention is to provide such window assemblies which are well adapted for installation with window frame units to form a complete window assembly, closing, capping and flashing the rough window opening in a building under construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide window assemblies incorporating self-caulking and self-weather- ICS stripping features, eliminating air leakage while providing smooth, trouble-free operation, with easy raising and lowering of window sashes which can be latched in different open positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide window assemblies affording unusually wide View openings to admit a maximum amount of light.

Other and more specific objects will be apparent from the features, elements, combinations land operating procedures disclosed in the following detailed description and shown in the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front elevation View of a completely erected and installed window assembly incorporating the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional side elevation view of the Window assembly of FIGURE 1 shown during its installation;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional top plan View of the window assembly of FIGURE 2 during its installation;

FIGURES 4, 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views showing the construction details of the erected window assembly of FIGURE 1. FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary front elevation view; FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevation view; FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view and FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional top plan view; FIGURES S, 6 and 7 are taken along the indicated section lines in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary rear corner perspective view of the screen and sash window units showing their supporting guide and latching mechanisms;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional end elevation view of the lower window sash rail of one of the sashes shown in FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary rear elevation view, partially in section, of the assembly shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, illustrating the operation of the latch mechanisrns of the present invention.

The assembled window units of the present invention are well adapted to form integral prefabricated and preassembled windows for installation directly into rough window openings. In warmer climates these window units will be the only window incorporated in each window opening, and they may include double-hung sliding upper and lower sashes and one lower screen or both upper and lower screens if desired. v

In colder climates, the Window assemblies of this invention provide combination storm and screen window units ready for mounting to form the front face of the ordinary assembled double-hung window unit, replacing the exterior exposed members of this window unit to provide self-flashing and an integral drip cap which minimize the installation and painting of trim surrounding the finished Window. The outer sheathing of the building, such as shingles or clapboards, extends over and completely covers the self-hashing of these window units, as shown in FIGURE 1.

In the window assembly 20 shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, a pair of jambs 22 are joined by a head 24 and foot 26 to form the rectangular frame for the assembled window unit 20. Each of the jam'bs 22 is provided on its outer side with a broad flashing flange 28 extending beyond the opening for the window over a substantial margin of the rough sheathing 30, and ange 28 is covered in turn .by the nish sheathing, such as shingles 32, all as shown in FIGURE 1.

The head 24 is provided with a similar ashing flange 34 extending upward beyond the rough window opening, covering the rough sheathing 30 and also being covered by the external finish sheathing 32. As shown in FIGURE 3, the window assembly 20 combines with the double-hung drip cap and exterior trim for this unit 38. The window assembly 2G is designed to be erected, assembled and 1nstalled in window frame 36 by the lumber yard .or building supply distributor, and completed window umts 38 are thus made available in standard sizes for shipment to building sites for prompt installation by the builder. The 1nstallation of the assembled window unit 38 is illustrated 1n FIGURE 2 where the combination of frame 36 and assembly 20 comprising the assembled window unit 38 1S shown being tilted into position in the rough window opening 40 in a building under construction.

As shown in FIGURE 2, during installation of the window unit 38 in the rough opening 4f), the outer edge of the sill 42 forming the lower portion of the frame 36 is rested in the rough opening 49. The upper portion of the unit 38 is then pivoted toward and into the rough opening 40, pivoting about the outer lower edge of the rough opening 40 until flashing flanges 28 and 34 rest against the primary rough sheathing 30 of the building. The assembled unit 38 is then secured in the Window opening, with the flashing flanges 28 and 34 being nailed through the primary sheathing 30 to the frame members forming the rough opening 40, for example.

Head flashing and drip cap member The head member 24 with its flashing flange 34 is shown in more detail in FIGURES 4, and 6. Member 24 may be formed of extruded aluminum for example with a cross section like that shown in FIGURE 5. It preferably incorporates two principal flanges joined to form an angle conguration. These are the upstanding flashing flange 34 and the outwardly protruding and downwardly slanting cap flange 44 forming a drip cap over the window and terminating in a downwardly protruding rim 46. Extending downwardly from the underside of the cap flange 44 are two flanges forming structural parts of the head member 24 and also serving to stiffen it. These are a front flange 48 anda rear flange 50. As shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, the jamb member 22 is secured to the rear side of front flange 48 directly under the cap flange 44, and the front flange 48 thus forms the upper boundary rim of the finished window opening. The rear flange 50 extends downward behind the upper storm sash to provide weatherstripping and sealing of the finished assembly.

Jamb members Each of the jamb members 22 incorporates a U-shaped channel facing the window opening, formed by a jamb web 52 in the shape of a thin, flat plate generally perpendicular to the sheathing of the building, and having a wide outer flange 54 extending into the window opening, and a narrower inner flange 56 also extending into the window opening. The outer and inner flanges are substantially parallel, and thus form between themselves a channel for mounting the window sashes and screens. Extending away from the window on the opposite side of the jamb web 52 is the jamb flashing flange 28. .Tamb flashing flange 28 is substantially parallel to the outer and inner flanges 54 and 56 and is displaced with respect to outer flange 54 to bring head flashing flange 34 and jam-b flashing flange 28 substantially into the same plane, both lying flat against the primary sheathing 30 of the building. The jamb member 22 is secured to the rear side of rfront flange 48 on head member 24 when the assembled window unit is formed, ready to be installed in the rough window opening.

The outer and inner flanges 54 and 56 are each provided with inturned retainer rims 58 and 60 respectively. A scalloped track guide member 62 shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 spans the U-shaped channel formed by outer and inner flanges 54 and 56 and by jamb web 52. The track guide 62 is formed of rolled or extruded metal or hard extruded plastic, for example, and it is shaped with the desired number of track grooves such as the concavely arcuate shallow grooves 64, 66 and 68. In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 6 and 8, these three similar concave tracks 64, 66 and 68 in the track guide 62 are arraycd side by side in a plane -generally parallel to the jamb web 52, and are separated from each other only by their junction ridges 65 and 67. Beyond track groove 68 is a gentle reversely curved or S-curved" portion 70 of the track guide 62, separated from groove 68 by another junction ridge 69, and terminating in an outwardly retaining flange 74. The opposite edge of track guide 62 is provided with a similar outwardly projecting retaining flange 72, and the overall configuration of the grooved track guide 62 is shown in FIGURES 5, 6, 7 and 8.

The retaining flanges 72 and 74 are positioned behind the respective retainer rims 58 and 60 on jamb 22 in the assembled window unit. Interposed between the jamb 22 and track guide 62 is a compressed rectangular slab 76 of resilient, compressible foam material such as polyurethane or foam rubber. The foam slab 76 is an elongated block of resilient foam extending over substantially the entire vertical height of jamb 22 behind track guide 62, urging track guide 62 away from jamb web 52 and toward the center of the window opening.

As shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, the foam block 76 iS provided with a cross section extending across the substantial Width of the jamb 22 from inner flange 56 to outer flange 54. The normal thickness of the foam block 76 in its free and uncompressed state is slightly greater than the `maximum distance from the unexposed face of track guide 62 to the facing surface of jamb web 52 when track guide 62 is positioned with its retaining flanges 72 and 74 inside the retainer rims 58 and 60 of the jamb 22.

The assembly of these members 22, 62 and 76, with track guide 62 being urged by block 76 away from jamb web 52 in jamb 22 and toward the retainer rims 58 and 60 which hold it in position, maintains the foam block 76 in slight resilient compression. The block 76 is very much more compressible than this, however, and its further resilient compression is produced by any outside force acting in any one of the track grooves 64, 66 and 68 for example. Thus the normal action of urging a window sash unit or a window screen unit edgewise into any one of the track grooves further compresses the block 76. In the normal installed position of these sash and screen units, held between the facing track grooves on opposite jambs, the foam blocks 76 installed in each jamb 22 are maintained compressed, urging the track guide 62 toward all of the sash or screen units.

The scalloped shape of the thin, grooved track guide 62, and its S-curved section 70, co-operate to give it excellent stiffness and rigidity against columnar buckling under vertical loads acting generally parallel to its grooves, while permitting resilient bending and flexure under normal loads acting toward the exposed surface of guide 62.

As a result, as indicated in FIGURE 8, each of the grooves 64, 66 and 68 flexes toward the lateral edges of the screen 82 or sash 78 or 80 gripped between the two facing track guides 62. The compressible, squashy deformation of foam block 76 tends to equalize the gripping force applied by grooves 64, 66 and 68, and flexible track guide 62 flexes to equalize these gripping forces lengthwise along the grooves and between adjacent grooves as well. The columnar stiffness of scalloped track guides 62 under vertical loads provides solid support for the sashes 78 and 80 in their vertically raised positions, without reducing this flexing equalizing of gripping forces.

The compressibility of foam blocks 76 facilitates easy removal of sash or screen units from the window assembly. Referring to FIGURES 2 and 8, the normal units installed in the window assemblies of this invention include an upper storm sash 78 positioned in central track groove 66, a lower storm sash 80 positioned in the innermost track groove 68, and two screen units, an upper screen 82 and a lower screen 84 both positioned in the outermost track groove 64.

The upper screen 82 is provided with a depending outer flange 86 along its lower edge overlapping the lower screen 84, as shown in detail in FIGURE 8 and also in FIGURES 1 and 2. The outer flange 86 serves to position the screens 82 and 84 in track groove 64 and to provide a neat-appearing air seal between the screens to block the entry of insects between them. Since Screens 82 and 84 stand one above the other in track groove 64, they require no latch mechanisms to maintain them in their vertical positions. The upper storm sash 78 is provided with a pair of latches 88 in its lower corners and the lower storm sash 80 is provided with a similar pair of latches 90 in its lower corners. These latches 88 and 90 are shown in the enlarged perspective view of FIGURE 8, and in FIGURES 9 and 10.

Convenient removabilty The resilience of the flexible and compressible foam block '76 and the corresponding flexibility of the thin track guide 62 provides unusually convenient removability for the storm sashes 73 and 80 and the two screens 82 and 84. The mere action of drawing the lower storm sash 80 toward the interior of the building, urging it from its track groove 68 toward the inner flange 56 of jamb 22 causes this lower storm sash 80 to ride over the junction ridge 69 between grooves 68 and S-curved portions 70 of the track guides 62, and both track guides 62 are correspondingly urged outwardly toward jamb 22, compressing foam block 76 and allowing lower storm sash 80 to be withdrawn easily by the user inside the building. The upper storm sash 78 and the two screens 84 and 86 may also be removed by merely drawing them past the ridges 65 and 67 in track guide 62 flexing guides 62 and compresing the foam blocks 76 in each jamb 22 as the storm sashes or screens are drawn into the building for cleaning or repair. Reversely S-curved portion 70 of guide 62 forms a relieved access ramp extending from retaining flange 74 to the first ridge 69, over which the side rail members of the sashes and screens slide easily into place as they are reinstalled.

The positioning of the storm sashes 78 and 80 in their respective track grooves 66 and 68 is clearly illustrated in FIGURE 8, where the side edges of the storm sashes 78 and 80 will be seen to have a curved shape closely cony forming to their respective concave track grooves 66 and any other shallow smooth curve desired.

Foot member The foot 26 is formed as an inverted channel-shaped member best seen in FIGURES 4, 5 and 7. It includes a base web 92 with a downwardly depending face flange 94 along its outer edge and a shorter, downwardly depending inner flange 96 along its inner edge. An upwardly protruding rim 98 extends along the forward edge of the base web 92 at its junction with the downwardly depending face flange 94, and the upwardly extending rim 98 thus forms a continuation of face flange 94. The base web 92 is designed to slant downward towardthe outside of the window assembly 20, to allow outward drainage of any water collecting on base web 92, and drainage holes 100 (FIG- URES 4, 5 pass through rim'98 from the outer upper surface of base web 92 through the face flange 94 to the outside of the window assembly for the drainage of such collected moisture.

The assembly of channel-shaped foot 26 within the channel-shaped jamb 22 to form the lower corner of the window assembly 20 is shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. Foot 26 is dimensioned to bring the outer surfaces of face flange 94 and inner flange 96 into substantial juxtaposition with the inner surfaces of the outer and inner flanges 54 and 56 of jamb 22. By inserting the ends of foot 26 within the lower ends of jamb 22, these structural members are positioned for assembly by such means as the anchor bolt 102 passing through the overlapping portion of their outer flanges, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5.

Bolt 102 may be provided with a corresponding nut inside the assembled structural members, or self-tapping metal screws may be employed to join the overlapping flanges of these members 22 and 26. Preformed holes are made ot facilitate the assembly of these structural members, and the inner covered member may be provided with a short horizontal slot, with its horizontal length twice its vertical diameter for example, to allow for a slight horizontal expansible adjustment of the overall window assembly 20 during its erection. Similar assembly slots may be provided in the upper ends of the outer flange 54 of each jamb 22 to permit the same horizontal expansible adjustment of window assembly 20 at its upper corners when members 22 and 24 are ybolted together during its erection. Vertical adjustment may be dispensed with if desired, since air space between window assembly 38 and rough opening 40 is fully covered by flashing flange 34 (FIGURES l, 2).

Storm sash latches Vertical vpositioning of the storm sashes in the track guide 62 at desired preselected positions is achieved by the latches 88 and 90 mounted in the lower corners of the sashes 78 and 80.

As shown in FIGURES 8, 9 and l0, the lower rail 104 of the storm sash is provided with a rectangular groove or cavity 106 formed in its lower portion, between an inner wall 114 and an outer wall 118. Mating ribs 108 protrude into the cavity 106 from walls 114 and 118 defining an upper region accommodating angle blocks 110 (FIGURE l0) whose legs are inserted in the upper portion of cavity 106 demarked by ribs 108. The walls of the rail 104 are swaged or crimped inwardly to stake angle block 110 in the anchoring position in both rail 104 and side member 112 of storm sash 80, as shown in FIGURE 10. Beneath the ribs 108, the inner wall 114 of the rail 104 is cut away to form an access aperture to the rectangular cavity 106, within which a generally U-shaped latch housing 116 is slidably positioned at each end of vrail 104, as shown in FIGURES 8-10. The outer wall 118 of rail 104 is crimped inwardly just beyond the inner end of latch housing 116 to stake the latch housing and block its further movement along the cavity 106, as shown in FIGURE l0.

As shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, the U-shaped latch housing 116 has a downward facing opening which rests upon and is closed over most of its length by the -base flange 120 of rail 104. The base flange 120 and the exposed side wall of latch housing are both cut away to form a aperture 121 opening both inward and downward in a central portion of the latch assembly 90, as shown in FIGURES 8-10.

An elongated sliding latch 122 is positioned inside latch housing 116 and is provided with a protruding actuator 124 projecting through the aperture 121 formed in latch housing 116 and base flange 120. The latch 122 may be swiveled through an angle of approximately 90 within housing 116 to allow the actuator 124 to protrude either sideways through the aperture 121 portion of latch housing 116, or downwardly through the aperture 121 portion of base flange as indicated respectively in solid and in dashed lines in FIGURE 9. A compression coil spring 126 (FIGURE l0) is positioned between the latch 122 and the staked inner end of latch housing 116, as indicated in dashed lines in FIGURE l0, and this coil spring is normally held in compression, urging latch 122 toward the side member 112 of the storm sash 80. Latch 122 is dimensioned to allow its opposite end, remote from spring 126, to protrude through the end of cavity 106 and latch housing 116, beyond the side member 112. In this latched condition, with actuator 124 urged assesses against the outer end of the aperture 121 portions of base ange 120 and latch housing 116 by the action of spring 126, latch 122 thus extends a short distance beyond sash 80. When actuator 124 is moved toward spring 126 by the user, the latch 122 slides within latch housing 116 to compress spring 126, drawing the protruding end of latch 122 inside the latch housing 116.

As shown in FIGURE l0, the latch 122 may be aligned with a dimple 128, formed in the shape of a hollow depression in the base of either sash track groove 66 or 68. A dimple 128 is shown in the lower portion of FIGURE 8, and a dimple 128 is also shown in cross section in FIGURES 7 and 10. When the track guide 62 is formed of a thin stili plastic material, the dimple 128 may be formed at desired vertical positions in the track grooves 66 and 68 lby the application of a heated die shaped like the protruding end of latch 122.

Thus, as shown in FIGURE 10, protruding latch 122 projects into the selected dimple 128 and the lower rim of dimple 128 :blocks downward movement of latch 122, acting to retain the storm sash 80 in the selected vertical position in its facing pair of track grooves. The dimples 128 in the facing pairs of track grooves are preferably positioned at approximately the same height. A latch 122 in each lower corner of each storm sash can therefore protrude into a corresponding dimple 128 in its track guide 62 to hold both lower corners of the sash in the selected vertical position. Since the screens 82 and 84 are not designed to move vertically in their track groove 64, they are not provided with latches and no dimples are formed in track groove 64 in the track guide 62. If either screen is designed to be raised and lowered in its track guide, suitable latches and dimple combinations may be provided in the track guide.

Wide view opening As shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the window assemblies of the present invention provide unusually wide view openings through the screens 82 and 84 and the storm sashes 78 and 80. The jambs 22 are positioned t0 fit closely within the jamb members of the window frame 36, so that the top, side and bottom rails of the storm sash and screen members are positioned at the extreme peripheral edges of the window opening, generally juxtaposed with the corresponding members of the conventional double-hung window sashes, the upper sash 130 and the lower sash 132 shown in FIGURE 2. Thus, as indicated in the partially broken-away view of FIGURE 3, the entire width W of the screens and storm sashes is exposed for viewing and admitting light, corresponding substantially to the view opening of the conventional sashes 130 and 132.

The window assemblies 20 of the present invention thus achieve the numerous advantages described above. They provide quiet trouble-free operation with maximum convenience of assembly and removal of screens and storm sashes for repairs and replacement, together with maximum adjustability of the storm sashes in selected, vertically-displaced positions in their track guides. The selfsealing resilient track guides backed by compressible foam blocks 76 provi-de unusually good weather-stripping sealing of storm sashes, coupled with maximum sliding convenience of vertical adjustment and maximum View openings. The modular standard sizes of the jambs, foot and head members of these window assemblies may be assembled to accommodate all standard sizes of storm sashes and screens, while their corner adjustment adapts them to lit all standard rough openings of new buildings without the need for caulking. The self-flashing flanges of the jambs and heads and the integral drip cap configuration of the heads provide automatic self-weatherprooiing of these window assemblies without the need for flashing.

While the objects of the invention are efficiently achieved by the preferred forms of the invention described in the foregoing specification, the invention also includes changes and variations falling within and between the definitions of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A self-weatherstripped, plural sash window assembly, designed for mounting in a window opening formed in a sheathed building surface and having parallel sides, comprising in combination,

(A) a facing pair of elongated parallel jambs spaced apart to be positioned along opposite parallel sides of the window opening and each having protruding inner and outer flanges facing toward the opposite jamb with inturned retainer rims thereon;

(B) a pair of elongated track guides, each (l) spanning the space between the anges of one jamb and having parallel edges iitting behind the inturned rims thereof, and

(2) having a tirst sash groove and an adjacent second sash groove both concavely-arched in cross-section and substantially parallel to the parallel edges of the track guide;

(C) means spacing the ends of the facing jambs a predetermined distance apart,

(D) a pair of sashes each having convexly-bowed side edges engaging one of the concavely-arched sash grooves of each of the track guides and dimensioned to urge the track guides apart between the jamb flanges and away from the retainer rims thereof,

(E) and depressible resilient means positioned between each track guide and its jamb, urging the track guide toward the bowed side sash edges to produce sliding gripping contact between the arched sash grooves of each track guide and the bowed side sash edges engaged therein,

(F) with the concavely-arched first sash groove and the concavely-arched second sash groove being joined along a smooth continuous ridge formed along their intersection by intersecting planes tangent respectively to each groove at their juxtaposed adjacent edges, with the included ridge angle between these tangent planes being an obtuse angle, whereby the convexlybowed side edges of each sash may be slidingly transferred from either groove past said ridge into the adjacent groove by forces applied perpendicular to the sash which cause lateral depressible camming displacement of the track guides.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the jambs and spacing means incorporate flashing anges protruding away from the sashes and positioned to overlie the margin of the sheathed building surface at the top and sides of the window opening.

3. The combination dened in claim 1 including an integral drip Cap protruding outward from the building surface over the window opening.

4. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein each track guide is formed of thin, flexible sheet material deformed in corrugated fashion with alternating `ridges and shallow concave grooves extending lengthwise to form said sash grooves, producing stiffness and resistance to arching and buckling in response to loads acting parallel to the direction of the grooves while offering substantially less resistance to arching and buckling in response to loads acting perpendicular to the direction of thegrooves, whereby forces acting on the track guide, supplied by the resilient means, produce self-aligning flexural bending of the track guide conforming it to the bowed edges of the sashes in self-sealed weatherstripping relationship.

5. A track guide for the edge of a slidable panel, comprising in combination,

(A) an elongated sheet of thin flexible material deformed in corrugated fashion with at least two shallow concave grooves extending lengthwise flanking an interposed ridge, each such groove being posi- 9 tioned for sliding engagement with a panel edge aligned therein,

(B) supporting means holding the sheet near the panel edge, and

(C) resilient means, interposed between the supporting means and the sheet urging each groove toward its engaged panel edge, depressible to afford clearance for removal of each panel from its groove by lateral movement of the panel edge past the ridge bounding its groove,

(D) with the ridge interposed between adjacent grooves being a smooth continuous ridge formed by intersecting planes tangent respectively to each groove at their juxtaposed adjacent edges, with the included ridge angle between these tangent planes being an obtuse angle.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 wherein the sheet has an access edge near a first ridge bounding the side of the adjacent concave groove,

(A) with a relieved portion of the sheet forming an `access ramp extending from the access edge to the first ridge,

(B) and with both the access ramp and the access edge being displaced away from the panel edge to facilitate its removal and replacement.

7. The combination of the track guide dened in claim 5 with a slidable panel, including (A) means forming at least one latching rim formed in the sheet material at a preselected position,

(B) and a latch mounted on the panel in alignment with the latching rim and resiliently biased into engagement therewith at a predetermined latched position of the panel.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein each latching rim is defined by means forming an offset dimple deforming a portion of the sheet material without interrupting its continuity.

9. The combination defined by claim 7 wherein each latching rim is formed in the base of one of the shallow concave grooves.

10. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein the latch is formed as an elongated shaft slidably mounted within a tubular latch housing forming part of the panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 888,657 5/1908 Sanders 49-428 2,595,016 4/1952 Spector et al. 49-380 2,761,498 9/1956 Reinhardt 160-90 2,807,061 9/ 1957 Stone 52-74 3,055,468 9/1962 Horejs et al. 52-732 3,083,419 4/1963 Pennington et al. 160-90 X 3,256,641 6/1966 Johnson 52-309 DAVID I. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, KENNETH DOWNEY,

Examiners. A. I. BREIER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SELF-WEATHERSTRIPPED, PLURAL SASH WINDOW ASSEMBLY, DESIGNED FOR MOUNTING IN A WINDOW OPENING FORMED IN A SHEATHED BUILDING SURFACE AND HAVING PARALLEL SIDES, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, (A) A FACING PAIR OF ELONGATED PARALLEL JAMBS SPACED APART TO BE POSITIONED ALONG OPPOSITE PARALLEL SIDES OF THE WINDOW OPENING AND EACH HAVING PROTRUDING INNER AND OUTER FLANGES FACING TOWARD THE OPPOSITE JAMB WITH INTURNED RETAINER RIMS THEREON; (B) A PAIR OF ELONGATED TRACK GUIDES, EACH (1) SPANNING THE SPACE BETWEEN THE FLANGES OF ONE JAMB AND HAVING PARALLEL EDGES FITTING BEHIND THE INTURNED RIMS THEREOF, AND (2) HAVING A FIRST SASH GROOVE AND AN ADJACENT SECOND SASH GROOVE BOTH CONCAVELY-ARCHED IN CROSS-SECTION AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE PARALLEL EDGES OF THE TRACK GUIDE; (C) MEANS SPACING THE ENDS OF THE FACING JAMBS A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE APART, (D) A PAIR OF SASHES EACH HAVING CONVEXLY-BOWED SIDE EDGES ENGAGING ONE OF THE CONCAVELY-ARCHED SASH GROOVES OF EACH OF THE TRACK GUIDES AND DIMENSIONED TO URGE THE TRACK GUIDES APART BETWEEN THE JAMB FLANGES AND AWAY FROM THE RETAINER RIMS THEREOF, (E) AND DEPRESSIBLE RESILIENT MEANS POSITIONED BETWEEN EACH TRACK GUIDE AND ITS JAMB, URGING THE TRACK GUIDE TOWARD THE BOWED SIDE SASH EDGES TO PRODUCE SLIDING GRIPPING CONTACT BETWEEN THE ARCHED SASH GROOVES OF EACH TRACK GUIDE AND THE BOWED SIDE SASH EDGES ENGAGED THEREIN, (F) WITH THE CONCAVELY-ARCHED FIRST SASH GROOVE AND THE CONCAVELY-ARCHED SECOND SASH GROOVE BEING JOINED ALONG A SMOOTH CONTINUOUS RIDGE FORMED ALONG THEIR INTERSECTION BY INTERSECTING PLANES TANGENT RESPECTIVELY TO EACH GROOVE AT THEIR JUXTAPOSED ADJACENT EDGES, WITH THE INCLUDED RIDGE ANGLE BETWEEN THESE TANGENT PLANES BEING AN OBTUSE ANGLE, WHEREBY THE CONVEXLYBOWED SIDE EDGES OF EACH SASH MAY BE SLIDINGLY TRANSFERRED FROM EITHER GROOVE PAST SAID RIDGE INTO THE ADJACENT GROOVE BY FORCES APPLIED PERPENDICULAR TO THE SASH WHICH CAUSE LATERAL DEPRESSIBLE CAMMING DISPLACEMENT OF THE TRACK GUIDES. 